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Mahaparinirvana Temple

Posted on October 21, 2021 by admin1  45

In News 

  • Recently, the Prime Minister of India participated in an event marking Abhidhamma Day at the Mahaparinirvana Temple in Kushinagar. 

About Mahaparinirvana Temple

  • It is located in Kushinagar in UP. 
  • The reclining nirvana statue of Lord Buddha inside the temple is 6.10 mt. long and is made of monolith red sandstone of the 5th century A.D. 
  • It represents the ‘Dying-Buddha’ reclining on his right side with his face towards the west. 
  • Being the death- place of Lord Buddha, it is a holy place for pilgrimage.

What is Abhidhamma Day?

  • The day marks the end of a three-month rainy retreat – Varshavaas or Vassa – for the Buddhist monks and nuns during which time they stay at one place and pray.
  • The Union culture ministry and International Buddhist Confederation, in association with the government of Uttar Pradesh, is organising the Abhidhamma Day on the auspicious occasion of Ashwin Poornima.
  • This day is mostly celebrated in countries where Buddhism is practised by the majority of the population. 
    • According to widely held belief, this is the day when Lord Buddha came back to earth from heaven.
    • He is believed to have gone to heaven to teach Abhidhamma Pitaka (a basket of ultimate things) to his mother. 
    • The teaching took three months after which Buddha came back to Earth. His followers too mark the three-month time by staying at one place and praying.

Source: PIB

 
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